Barry: Formula 1 ... the excitement of it all

Mar 10 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

I CAN barely contain my excitement – the Formula 1 season is nearly upon us.

In just a few short days this extravaganza of excess will begin again, appropriately enough, in the absurd Neverneverland of Dubai.

As I’ve said before in this column, I have little or no time for racing sports of any kind – whether they involve driving, running or swimming.

They’re all the same – bang goes the starting pistol and then one person gets to the finish line before everyone else.

That’s it. That’s what’s happened in every single race ever. I just don’t see the appeal. Compared with the wonderful spontaneity of team sport – any team sport – racing leaves me cold.

But Formula1 is in a class of its own when it comes to dullness. Because, for all that other forms of racing are boring, at least they’re still sports.

In sprinting or swimming or rowing the competitors start on a level playing field and the best wins out. Usain Bolt isn’t the fastest man in the world because he has the best shoes. Steve Redgrave didn’t win all those gold medals by using a magic oar.

But in Formula 1 the quality of the car has a massive influence on the outcome of the race.

Of course the driver’s skill and courage comes into it, but you can’t say that Formula 1 takes place on a level playing field. And, therefore, you have to ask, is it really a sport?